BioAge Labs has begun a phase 2 study of BGE-102, an oral drug aimed at improving vision in patients with diabetic macular oedema, with top-line results expected in 2027 amid broader prospects for inflammatory eye diseases.
BioAge Labs has started a phase 2 study of BGE-102 in diabetic macular oedema, a sight-threatening complication of diabetes that can cause swelling in the retina and blurred central vision. The company said it has dosed the first participant in QUELL-DME, a randomised, controlled trial designed to test whether the once-daily oral drug can improve vision in people with the condition.
The study will enrol about 180 adults and will compare three approaches: standard anti-VEGF eye injections plus placebo, anti-VEGF injections plus BGE-102 at 90 mg once a day, and sham injection plus BGE-102 alone. According to BioAge, the main measure will be change in best-corrected visual acuity after 12 weeks, with additional exploratory checks on retinal measures and biomarkers in the eye and blood.
BioAge says BGE-102 is a structurally novel, orally available and brain-penetrant NLRP3 inhibitor. NLRP3 is part of the inflammasome, a cellular pathway linked to inflammation, and the company has presented the drug as a broader platform candidate for inflammatory diseases beyond eye disorders. In earlier company updates, BioAge said the programme had already shown tolerability and reductions in inflammatory markers in Phase 1 work.
Top-line results from QUELL-DME are expected in the second half of 2027. BioAge has also said the findings could help guide development in other NLRP3-driven retinal diseases, including geographic atrophy, a degenerative eye condition that can affect central vision.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
